The Indian Navy is preparing to salvage the Nilgiri Class frigate, INS Vindhyagiri, which sank after its recent collision with Cypriot merchant vessel Nordlake.

Assistant public relations officer for Defence Narendra Vispute said the decision to decommission or refit the vessel would be taken only after assessing the vessel’s condition.

“Once the ship is decommissioned, its parts are sold as scrap. The ship can also serve as a museum for visitors. Sometimes, the parts are used in other ships,” he added.

INS Vindhagiri is an indigenously built frigate, which was commissioned in 1981 and was scheduled to be decommissioned in a year or two.